God is a God who remembers obscure people who believe in His promises. He sees into their hearts and fills them with His love.

²⁵ “Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.²⁷ And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, ²⁸ he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
    according to your word;
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation
³¹  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³ And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him.³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed ³⁵ (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶ And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, ³⁷ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:25-38, ESV)

One of my favorite Christmas stories is the story of Simeon and Anna meeting baby Jesus at the temple, where Mary and Joseph brought Him to be dedicated to God according to the Law. There’s a lot of meaning infused in this story as God reveals Jesus as the consolation of Israel. But what I love most about this story is how God remembers the faithful ones – how He sees into their hearts, knows their desires, and fills them. Simeon and Anna probably weren’t the most powerful. Both were elderly. Anna was widowed for a long time, and probably bore no children since she was living in the temple day and night, rather than with her family. During that time, widows without children generally lived in poverty. Of all the people in the world, God chose these two ordinary people to show who Jesus is.

Simeon and Anna were living in Advent – waiting faithfully for God to send the Anointed Savior, the Messiah and to fulfill His promises to Israel. They desired to hear from God and see Him save His people. Simeon’s name reminds of the tribe of Simeon, one of the least significant tribes of Israel – disgraced by the actions of Simeon, forefather of that tribe. Jacob rebuked Simeon and Moses didn’t mention this tribe in his prophetic blessings. But finally, with the appearance of a baby, it is a time of God’s grace. Simeon may or may not have been a part of the tribe – but like them, living in the midst of the lands of Judah and receiving blessings, this Simeon is blessed by seeing and recognizing The Lion of Judah, the consolation of Israel. As Simeon awaited the arrival of Messiah, the Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before seeing Jesus. In a spiritual sense, Simeon heard from God – as his name implies. Simeon, having heard from God, gives a prophetic blessing. The baby Jesus was going to grow up to be a light to the Gentiles – causing them to know the true God. He will be a glory to Israel – as He comes from this people, overcome by enemies for thousands of years, and brings God’s blessings to the world. The time of disgrace is gone, and it is a time of consolation and glory.

Who Jesus is and what He came to do – to die on the cross like a criminal – would cause many in Israel to both fall and rise because not all will believe in Him as Messiah. Hanging on a wooden cross as a curse – ridiculed, beaten, shamed, naked, pierced, wearing a crown of thorns with a sign above saying “King of the Jews” – seemed opposed to the image of the Son of David. Yet, God, would show that His weakness is stronger than the might of sin and man. His strength is shown in Jesus’ resurrection – in the power of indestructible life. As man raised Jesus up and hung on the cross, God drew the outcasts, those exiled from Him, those who didn’t know Him, those who were blind and void of life, to Him. The cross, the apex of God’s love, mercy and justice, would show the true thoughts of people. Some would turn their eyes away, offended by such a seemingly weak Savior who didn’t save Himself by getting off the cross. But some would see Jesus, knowing that there’s healing and life by drawing near to Him.

Anna didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. God does as her name is. He shows her grace. Her father’s name is Penuel meaning “face of God.” When she sees baby Jesus, she is seeing the face of her God. She presumably has no children. Like Hannah, before her, the barren woman now has a Son. The circle is complete as Anna sees the anointed king who Hannah sung about after the birth of her son. The daughter from Asher, who fasted in the temple, is filled with the Bread of Life – and can now feast in the King’s banqueting table. God provides for her in the way only He can. He gives her Jesus, the consolation of Israel. She is filled and as her foot is anointed with oil, this prophetess brings good news to everyone awaiting the Messiah – that He has arrived.

God is painting a picture through these two faithful servants, Simeon and Anna. They recognized Jesus correctly and through the Bible, we see what they saw. This is a scene of their testimony – two witnesses – saying that Jesus is the consolation of Israel. He is a comfort to the disgraced and the impoverished because through Him, God gives grace – the forgiveness of sins and rich heavenly blessings – the Holy Spirit, eternal life, sonship and the Kingdom of God.

And through this story, God’s grace overflows even more. He gives current believers the hope of seeing Jesus – that one day, He will return. There’s the hope that after a long wait, like the generations of saints who eagerly waited for Messiah, Jesus will return to earth to make all things new. There’s the assurance there will be joy and feasting at His return. There will be perfect joy, uncomplicated by sin and complete with a love that never ends.